Woodson, Young, Ross to pick up safety slack

The Raiders were resigned to moving forward without strong safety Tyvon Branch Monday, with Charles Woodson, Usama Young and Brandian Ross charged with picking up the slack after the loss of their highest-paid player.
Raiders coach Dennis Allen declined to confirm an ESPN report that Branch had a fractured fibula, saying, “ he’s probably going to miss some time, how much that time is, I don’t know.’’

Allen termed the injury “significant’’ following a 19-9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, the same term he used when Jared Veldheer had surgery to repair a torn triceps.

“We’re going to be missing a good player,’’ Woodson said. “It’s unfortunate it goes down like this and it just means somebody is going to have to step up.’’

Having already used the short-term injured reserve designation in Jared Veldheer following surgery to repair a torn triceps, Branch will be carried on the 53-man roster until he’s healthy unless the team determines he needs to be placed on injured reserve for the season.

Branch, who signed a four-year $26.5 million extension last year and is earning $9.5 million this season in a restructured deal, has been a favorite of three different coaching staffs because of his work ethic as well as an explosive, physical style.

The Raiders did fine for three quarters without Branch against Jacksonville, with Young getting 1.5 sacks and Ross getting a sack.

While Ross is listed as the backup strong safety to Branch and Young the No. 2 free safety behind Woodson, Allen said he wasn’t sure which player would start in the place of Branch and isn’t really sure if it matters.

“If Ty’s out for awhile ew’ve got guys we feel can step up and make plays, whether it’s strong safety or free safety,’’ Allen said. “I look at those as interchangeable positions and they really need to be to have the flexibility to do different things defensively.’’

Young, having played in New Orleans when Allen was coaching defensive backs, is used to moving around.

“I’ve played free, I’ve played strong, I’ve played nickel, I’ve played corner,’’ Young said. “Here as a safety, you’re a safety. We mix it up so much, with guys in the box or back in space, you never know where you’re going to be.’’

Allen and Woodson said the Raiders believe they won’t have to alter their game plan to account for the absence of Branch when they visit the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 3.

“I believe we have smart players and guys that can go in and know what’s expected of them, what to do,’’ Woodson said. “We won’t have to alter our game plan at all. We look forward to going down there with our full arsenal of plays and just have to stick different guys in there to implement it, and we’re comfortable with that.’’

– Woodson has gotten plenty of feedback from his leaping tackle of Maurice Jones-Drew which prevented a potential Jacksonville touchdown. He saw it on film and liked what he saw.

“It’s pretty impressive,’’ Woodson said. “It was one of those sellout plays that you need during the course of a game that hopefully can turn the tide and give you some momentum.’’

– Guard Lucas Nix is getting an MRI on his injured ankle and his status for Denver is not known. Andre Gurode played in place of Nix, who was struggling in part because of the injury.

“He did well,’’ Allen said of Gurode. “A couple of things need to be cleaned up but overall I was pleased with what he did when he got in there.’’

– Allen said place kicker Sebastian Janikowski, whose miss from 35 yards snapped a streak of 50 straight field goals from 40 yards and in, is still working on gaining confidence with Marquette King as the holder. Shane Lechler was Janikowski’s holder from 2000 through 2012.

Who wouldn’t love to see Charles Woodson make a flying “Superman” neck tackle on Peyton Manning instead of Maurice Jones-Drew?

I think the media is expecting Manning to have 7 TD passes again – like Week 1

HGDaddy

Pro Football Focus ‏@PFF
So far Lamarr Houston, in a contract year, leads 4-3 DEs in our pass rushing productivity sig stat. 16 QB disruptions on 69 pass rushes. As impressive, Houston has done that switching from rushing from the left side of line (90% in 2012) to right side (94.5%) in 2013.

dirkdiggler

HGDaddy Says:
September 17th, 2013 at 11:26 am

Pro Football Focus ‏@PFF
So far Lamarr Houston, in a contract year, leads 4-3 DEs in our pass rushing productivity sig stat. 16 QB disruptions on 69 pass rushes. As impressive, Houston has done that switching from rushing from the left side of line (90% in 2012) to right side (94.5%) in 2013.

I can see the Raider D playing tough. MNF against Dungver and manning. this will be the Raiders SB this year. it should be a battle and you never know

***

@Dirk

you’re right. this is the Raiders “Super Bowl” and guess what?

Manning didn’t do so well last time he faced Dennis Allen & Tracy Porter in one

history repeats itself?

http://profootballtalk.com Raideraholic (AKAHairyBush)

Broke my heart to hear about Clady

RaiderRockstar

new post..

DIRT-LOT FOOTBALL

RAIDERS 31-28

R8erEduc8er

R8erEduc8er Broncos 31-20

raiderlization

like I said. It don’t matter who it is or if we win you guys fine a way to put stank on everything thank God for the internet and hookers cause family life will kill you if you had to put up with the truth! LMAO! Raiders are 1 and 1 and that’s what we expected with or without Flynn! We are expected to lose against Denver! We have nothing to lose and that means dangerous and Pryor will have the Broncos looking for oxygen! So what’s wrong with that? Go Raiders!

You don’t have to plug into the list, but if you type it that way it makes it much easier to do this list. Inability to do so means riding the short bus.

beach

In Reggie we trust! Either get on board, or get off of the effing bus! We have Charles Woodson back and a hungry, aggressive defense! Pryor needs to keep improving every game. Seabass needs to make all his FGs. Go Raiders!